The Perth Mint The 1st 1Kg Silver Bar - Serial No.1 (Pictures below of a recent acquisition) After extensive research I believe this to be the 1st 1Kg Silver Bar produced by The Perth Mint. From what I can find this seems to be the oldest logo design used on the 1Kg bars, I can't seem to find any older designs for the 1Kg bars. Each of the bars in this series has a serial number on the back, as yet I have never seen any of these bars designs without a serial number. I also believe this bar pre-dates many other Serial Numbered Perth Mint Silver bars as this series is one of the few serials number series that had no structure to the numbering system. Other series use letters 'A' and 'B' as a pre-fix or even would use zeros as a pre-fix i.e. if this was a planned batch then the series may have started at '00001' rather than just '1'. The lack of any real structure or system leads me to believe this would have also been one of the earlier batch of Silver bars as well as the first of this size. The number on this bar is constant with this series as all the 2 digit serials have only 2 digits to them, 3 digit serials have the 3 digits to them and so on. I have spoken to The Perth Mint about this bar but unfortunately those that would have the knowledge of any baring system used in the 70's or 80's no longer work there. The person I spoke to while helpful was not able to either confirm or deny if this was the 1st of the 1Kg Silver bar produced. I'll leave it now for people to comment, perhaps someone else can shed some more light, three things I would like to know if anyone can clarify. 1. Can anyone show me if there are any older 1Kg Perth Mint silver bar designs? 2. Can anyone show me if there are any of these 1Kg Perth Mint designs without a serial number? 3. Can anyone show me if there is a way to tell if any other Perth Mint silver bar pre-dates this one?
I've contacted Perth Mint about these bars a few years ago. They did get back to me and like you got the same info. They have virtually no records that go back, they couldn't tell me much at all. From my research it is my understanding is that these were the first kilo bars to be produced by the Perth Mint, this is also what the Perth Mint person who asked around concluded too. I also believe "The number on this bar is constant with this series as all the 2 digit serials have only 2 digits to them, 3 digit serials have the 3 digits to them and so on." is correct. No bars have 0 preceding the number. Your bar indeed appears to be the very first kilo produced. Pretty cool!
Nice bar Tozak, cant determine from the angle of the pics you have provided but check the indentation and size of the "1" on the front and "1" on the back of the bar and compare.
Thanks, yes I have compared with another bar from the same series and it's identical font and size, also the position is consistent with the starting number of other serial numbers. My inital concern was that it may have been a bar with no serial number and someone has just stamped a '1' on it but I can't seem to find any example of this series without a serial number and this number seems consistant with the others in the series.
Here is a genuine number 1. Put your photo of the number next to mine for comparison. There are different fonts used over the period.
The number 1 on the "1 Kilo" is different to the serial number "1"'s on the back. I am 100% sure of this and that bar is authentic. If you'd like I can take photos for you (on another bar) but it will take time as it won't be until next time I am visiting the bars for obvious reasons.
can you smell that? I can smell the jealousy in here. What a find, hold onto that and let the crazy money dwell on what they don't have. That has to be big money.
All bars were had serial numbers. The stamp of 1 is the same as every bar of that type. The location of the stamp is in correct place, top left. I will photograph a bar and post it on here then. There is no doubt in my mind this is a legit serial number. Like I said, very cool and I like it.
No jealousy and not even envious I happen to like Tozak, and would like this bar to be Number 1. as for you like I told you last time you have a habit - what you can smell is faeces on the end of your tongue, just keep searching you a sure to find a few nuggets.....
1. it wasn't directed at you, it was a broad statement. The fact it struck a nerve however... kinda implies you are. 2. is that cyber bullying? you better hope I don't take offense to that and dob on you to GP. Directed insults like that can get you in trouble.